A dog walk.

16Jul
by Jon Swanson

It may have just been allergies, but Chevy Beyonce had some trouble with her eye. On Tuesday, it looked gross. Andrew and Allie made an appointment with the vet. By Wednesday evening, she was better. Andrew wondered whether it was worth keeping the appointment.

I didn’t offer an opinion.

He decided.

So Chevy, Andrew and I walked the mile to the vet on the west side of Chicago’s Loop. As we walked, Andrew talked about his job. He’s been at this employer since starting as an intern in February. He’s not an intern anymore. He’s learning about boss relationships, client relationships, time relationships.  I asked some questions. I suggested a little about what might be going on. But mostly, I listened. And smiled at the maturing I was hearing.

When we got to the vet, we waited a couple minutes. Then Andrew and Chevy went into the exam room and I waited. I texted with Nancy. I outlined last Thursday’s post. When they came out, I let Andrew pay. Chevy is their dog. We walked back.

chevy and andrew

We talked some more. Andrew and Allie talked about the vet’s comments. Andrew ordered our supper. (Pizza. It’s Chicago. Duh.) We took Chevy to the apartment, chatted with Allie, and then Andrew and I went to get the pizza. He pointed out a couple of the regulars on their street: the Tina Turner tribute street performer. The accordion player. Some of them are Chevy’s friends. In fact, some are people that Chevy helped out with her Christmas money.

I paid for supper.

I’m a dad. I love being with our kids. I love seeing them in their places, learning to live and laugh and even wrestle with tough decisions.

As I walked with Andrew, I thought “Is this the kind of walking God loves?”

9 thoughts on “A dog walk.”

  1. Frank Reed

    I believe that God smiles on any good interactions a father has with his children. Sin has made the father son / daughter relationship something that can painful and contentious when it really is most natural being something that borders on magical. We need to celebrate and enjoy the genuine good moments. I think that 1 Thes. 5 16-18 is the way to view these and and moments that seem special with our children. Then when things go bad we can turn to the very same Scripture to help us persevere and strive for more special times.

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  3. cjhinx

    Parenting gives you a whole new perspective on how God relates with us, his children. When children are grown and don’t want a close relationship with their parents, it can be painful. I can only imagine how God must feel when his children don’t want a close relationship with him.

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  4. joseph ruiz

    Someone, I think John Ortberg wrote an ordinary day with Jesus – I’ll bet a lot of interactions with the disciples and Jesus were ordinary, at least by our standards. Too often I miss the value of the ordinary looking and waiting for the extraordinary. What a great reminder and an even better picture. There are lessons all around and aware.
    Thanks Jon.

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  6. Todd Lohenry

    Nice post, Jon — as a father of 6 boys, I appreciate your fatherly perspective. The critical question? WHICH pizza? For me it’s Giordano’s stuffed spinach!!!

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